Department for Culture Media and Sport

computer and video games

We sponsor the UK computer and video games sector, which makes a valuable contribution to our economy. Games made in UK studios generate global sales of around £1.7 billion a year and contribute around £400 million per annum to GDP.

We work with the sector to identify the drivers, challenges and opportunities for growth and productivity for individual businesses and for the UK games industry.

We work to build strong relationships with major computer and video games companies and their representative bodies, including the two national trade associations – the UK Interactive Entertainment Association (UKIE) and Tiga.

We are the voice for the industry in Government, seeking to ensure that Government policies (in the UK and beyond) support the competitiveness of the games sector.

We also work with stakeholders to keep them up to date on Government policy developments, and we’re responsible for classification issues for media.

Facts and figures

The UK sector:

  • employs around 28,000 people including 9,000 in highly-skilled games development roles
  • has around 200 games development studios, located in clusters spread around the UK
  • in 2009 was estimated to be the 5th largest producer of games in the world (measured by revenue) behind the US, Japan and Canada (data source: GIC/Tiga)
  • is the location of the European headquarters for many multinational games companies
  • has a great reputation for talent in video games creation. British-based games developers are responsible for many iconic, globally successful games such as the Little Big Planet, Lego Star Wars, Grand Theft Auto, Lemmings and Tomb Raider series

The UK computer games market:

  • is the third largest in the world after the US and Japan
  • has the highest number of games development companies and publishers in Europe

The UK’s console market: 

  • is the largest in Europe – significantly bigger than the second, France, and third, Germany, combined